KATNISS

The sound of rain pounding onto the roof pulls me from sleep. Thunder claps and I sit up in bed. Peeta is still peacefully asleep beside me. I feel a sudden twinge in my stomach. It doesn't hurt, but it is off putting. I throw the covers off of me and swing my legs to the ground. I push myself up and make my way to the bathroom. Lupus sees me getting up and follows me. He whines a little and nudges my leg with his nose. I pet his head.

"I'm fine, Lup. It's okay," I say.

I hesitantly start to undress my bottom half, wiggling a bit to free them from my swollen hips and middle. I carefully step out of my pants and keep a hold on my underbelly. I keep a hold of the sink and the tub as I lower myself down to the toilet. Lupus comes and rests his head on my thighs. I lay back and gently pet his fur. Thunder laps loudly and all of the sudden the lights flicker then shut off. Lupus whines louder.

"Hey, it's just the lights. Don't worry," I say, and start to stand up.

I try to hoist myself up but am caught off guard by what feels like a punch to my stomach. I hold tight to my stomach and groan. I feel one of the girls kick harder. I grip the sink hard and hold onto my stomach with my other hand.

'Is this it? Is it finally happening? Are you girls coming?' I think.

My answer is another pain that causes my knees to bend naturally. I groan at the feeling. It feels like they are wrestling and I'm being twisted from the inside out.

"Peeta..." I call, my voice wavering with fear.

I hear him groan and the bed creak at his weight shifting.

"Peeta Mellark!" I cry when another pain forces me to my knees.

"Katniss?" I hear him mumble.

I stifle a cry and hold tightly to my abdomen and clench my fist on the ground. I heard him stumbling around in the dark.

"Katniss?" He asks worried.

I see a bright light behind my clenched eyelids. A gentle hand touches me.

"Katniss, are you okay? What is it? Are the girls okay?" He asks.

I look up at him with fear in my eyes and tears falling. "I'm scared.."

"Need me to call your mother?" He asks and knees down next to me.

"The power went out.. I think..I think something is wrong," I say.

I see him swallow hard. His fear is as much as mine. "I-I can go get her, alright? Just.. here," He says.

He sweeps me off of the ground and gently places me on the bed. I immediately cling to the pillows and bury my face into the bed with a small moan.

"I'll be back, Kitty. Just hold on," Peeta says.

All I do is give a groan in response. The bed shifts and I hear Peeta stumbling around some more. His heavy footsteps recede down the stairs. I hear the front door open and shut. I cling tightly to my stomach and ball a fist into the sheets. I feel Lupus rest his head on my thigh and he nuzzles into me.

I feel another pain grip me like a vice. I bury my face deeper into the bed. It passes in a few minutes. I suddenly feel a fullness of pressure on my hips and pelvis. I sit up fast and waddle my way to the bathroom. I'm gripped by the pain before I get to where I want to be and have to grip the doorframe of the bathroom and lean into it to keep me standing. As the pain leaves, I try to stand up straighter and reach my goal. But I stop short when I feel a strange sensation inside of me. Like a pop. I feel it gush and it's warm. I stand in a puddle of warm liquid. I already used the restroom, so my fears are amplified when I think of what this means. They are coming. Now. In the middle of a rain storm. With no power. No electricity.

I hear the door open and footsteps downstairs. Lupus starts barking and jumps off the bed and runs down stairs.

"Katniss! Are you okay?" I hear my mother call.

I don't respond. I'm still in shock watching the puddle beneath me grow outwards.

The door to my bedroom is flown open and Peeta is there following my mother with a flashlight. Peeta shines it at my frame.

"Katniss, what's wrong? Are you oka- Oh my god, what happened?" Peeta asks and comes to take my weight.

"When did this happen, Katniss?" Mother asks.

"I-I-I uh.. J-just now," I stutter.

"Peeta, set her back down in bed," she tells him.

Peeta moves my stone body back to the bed and sets me back down gently. Mother goes to the bathroom and comes back with a wet hand towel. She removes my soiled clothes and wipes me away. I get another pain and I squeeze Peeta's hand and the sheets with my other. I can't help my gasp in pain.

"When did the pain start Katniss?" Mother asks.

"Before the..storm..." I get out strained.

"How long are they?"

"Uuuh... minute or two?" I say and try to relax falling into Peeta who sits behind me.

"Hang on real quick. Let me find some candles,"

I rest back onto Peeta and try to breathe.

"You're shaking, Kit," He says softly.

"I-I'm scared, Peeta," I whimper and bury my face into his neck.

"Don't be, Lovely. We can do this. It'll be alright, I promise," he says and kisses my head.

The door opens and Mother comes back. She sets some candles around the room and lights them. The softness of it all calmed me down some. But I can't shake the nervousness and fear. Mother opened up her bag she brought with her and set her supplies out. She pulls out gloves and puts them on.

"I'm going to check your progress, Katniss. Is that okay?"

I nod into Peeta's shoulder. I hiss and try to pull away at the intrusion. Mother places her hand on my thigh to still me.

"About 5 centimeters. So halfway there, darling." Mother says and gently rubs my thigh. "Did you two sleep?"

"The storm woke me up.." I say.

"Peeta, why don't you and Katniss lay down for a while? I'll get things ready," Mother suggests.

Peeta looks down at me with a questioning look. I gingerly nod.

"Okay," he says.

"Here, let's get you changed, Katniss." Mother says and helps pull me up.

She takes me to the bathroom and has me sit down.

"I'm scared, Mother. What if I can't do this? What if something bad happens?" I ask.

"You can do this, honey. I had you and Primrose, didn't I? I'm still here. And at least I have you. Your sister would be so happy for you," She tells me. I can see her heart pulling at the name of her. My heart pulls as well. Another contraction brings tears of pain and tears for her.

"I miss her, Momma! She should have been her!" I cry.

"I know, I know, Katniss. But... you can do this. Regardless of her presence or not. You are strong. You are brave. And you can do this? Now, let's get you some rest before we meet your daughters," she says.

She helps me get situated in bed again. I curl myself into Peeta and try to sleep. I bury my face into his shoulder and wrap my arms around him tightly. I feel him rubbing my arm soothingly and caresses my stomach with his other hand.

"Hey, Little Bugs. You are almost ready to come out then, huh? We are so excited to see you both. See who you look like and to love you forever. Until you are ready, can you give Momma a little break? You're giving her a bit of pain, okay? We love you and are ready to see you," Peeta says softly.

"I love you, Peeta," I whisper.

"I love you too, Katniss," He whispers back.

~

I wake up after a few hours to a striking amount of pain. I can't help but let out a scream which stirs Peeta laying beside me and Lupus on his end of the bed. I clench my teeth and the sheets. The pain spreads from my lower back, to my spine, to my stomach, to my thighs. Peeta sits up fast and rubs my shoulders gently.

"Moooooom!" I cry out.

"Deep breaths, Katniss. Deep breaths. In and out. It's okay. Take my hand and squeeze it," Peeta coos.

I don't hesitate and squeeze it for dear life. I hear a few pops and Peeta muffle a cry of pain, but I couldn't care less at this time. The door opens and mother comes in.

"I have to push!" I scream at the top of my lungs.

"Hold on, dear. Let me see. Breathe, Katniss, breathe," Mother tells me.

Peeta helps me lie down on some pillows and keeps me distracted. I stare at the ceiling and am practically hyperventilating.

I feel another pain hit me. "I really have to push!" I cry.

"Alright, alright. You're ready to do so, Katniss. How do you want to do this? The bed? The tub?" Mother questions.

"I don't care! I have to push now!"

"Okay, okay. On the next contraction, bear down and push," She says.

"Don't forget to hold on," Peeta says and gives me his hand.

I hold onto it and start to take deep breaths. "Oww, ow, ow, nngghh!" I cry out.

"Good, good Katniss. That was very good. Take a rest now, relax. Here, Peeta." Mother says.

I sink into the mattress and plush pillows and blankets. I feel something cold and wet on my forehead. I feel an off feeling growing inside of me and push myself up off of the bed.

"I'm going to be sick.." I warn my mother, moving my hand to my mouth as I feel it rising.

Without even flinching, she hands me a wastebasket and I shove my face into it and throw up. Peeta rubs my back soothingly.

"Here, drink some water Katniss. We don't want you to pass out," She says handing me a glass of water.

I take hesitant sips and try to breathe. "I feel..light headed, Mom," I say weakly.

"That's natural, Katniss. Try to take deeper breaths. In through your nose, hold, out your mouth until it's all out of your lungs," Mother says. "Help her sit up better maybe, Peeta,"

Peeta nods and does as he was instructed and I try to breathe the way mother instructed me too. I feel a little bit better until I get another contraction.

"Breathe through this one, Katniss," Mother says.

I try not to hold my breath. But the pain is so great, I feel like I may pass out. The pain subsides and I lay back against Peeta's strong form. He moves the sweat covered hair out of my face and kisses my head.

"Next contraction, give another big push," Mother says. "Here, Peeta, hold her leg back, Katniss you hold your other leg, okay?"

We both nod and Peeta moves my leg back into position. It hurts to be this open and in this type of position. I pull my other leg back and give it all I can with a cry of pain.

The hours tick by and I don't even know what time it is. The rain has picked up along with my pain. The contractions come relentlessly and ever more painful. Along with my fears. My daughters could die. I could die. Something could be wrong. I'm going to fail them. The pain pushes the fears away when it comes on top of each other. The pain changes from unbearable to fire.

"It burns mother! Make it stop!" I cry.

"Breathe, Katniss. That's the head crowning. Almost out," Mother assures. "Pant and don't push. We don't want you to tear,"

Peeta scoots back and I lay down onto him. I squeeze his bruised hands and pant the contractions.

"You got this, Kitten. Almost there," Peeta whispers and kisses my lips gently.

"I can't! It hurts too much! Make it stop, please!" I sob. The breaking point is hitting me. The pain, the tiredness, I can't go on.

"Okay, Katniss. Keep panting. They aren't quite there yet," Mother drowns in.

Suddenly, there is a rapping on the roof. It's loud and startles me. I try to sit up.

"What is going on? What is that?" I whimper.

"Seems to be hailing. Nothing to worry about, Kitty," Peeta says gently and kisses me.

There is a loud thumping downstairs and then it moves up to the second floor. Lupus is running around and barking.

"Lupus, quite. Calm down," Peeta tells him.

He barks louder and runs around. I hear my heart beating faster and the noises amplifying in my head. It causes my fears and nightmares to swirl up again, along with a contraction. The fire has grown and my hysteria has as well.

I let myself scream my lungs out and push hard even though I was warned not to.

"Katniss, stop! Stop!" Mother yells.

I clench my teeth and groan, not letting up from the pushing.

"Kat, honey, pull back a little bit, babe. Breathe! Stop pushing!" Peeta says.

"Nghhhh oooohhh!" I moan.

The sounds around me amplify then fall silent with a feeling of lightning strike through me. I fall back to the bed and the noise is drowned out and all I hear is my heart beating fast and my unsteady breathing. A slam of the door and a bright light in my eyes slowly lets the noise come back in.

"Katniss,"

"Katniss, Kitty,"

"P..eet..a," I get out weakly.

"Sit up, honey," Mother says and her and Peeta put me up against the headboard.

"It's too much, mother. No more.. Please.." I whimper pathetically with tears streaming down my face.

"Give me your hand, Katniss," She says, fiercely focused.

I weakly extend my hand and she puts it between my legs. I feel a wet, slimmy, hairy mound beneath my fingertips. I want to pull away, but I can't.

"That's what you're doing. That's why you are doing this. You can, so let's," Mother says.

Peeta places his hand on top of mine and smiles at me with tears in his eyes. "Come on, Kitten. Almost there," He says and rests his forehead on mine.

"Okay.." I whisper.

I feel the contraction building in my gut.

"On the next contraction, try to push downward, okay?" Mother says.

I nod and Peeta takes a hold of my hand again. The contraction comes and I give what strength I never knew was there into it. Mother prods and stretches my walls to help me out. The energy won't give and I don't want to let it go.

"There you go, Katniss. Almost there," Mother says.

I let out an almost animalistic groan and give what I got, and am rewarded with a great release. I fall back and try to catch my breath. Something is placed atop of my chest and I look face to face with my daughter screaming her lungs out. I hesitantly place my hand on her small back. The vibrations of her cries and her lungs expanding sets an overall calm in me.

"A beautiful baby girl," Mom says.

I grip her tighter and cry myself. Not letting her go. The bed shifts and Peeta presses his face next to mine to get a better look at our baby girl.

"She's beautiful, Katniss. You did it. I love you so much, Lovely. Welcome to the world, Little Bug," Peeta says.

"If it's alright, I have to clean her up now, Katniss. Make sure things are okay, then you can get her right back," Mother says.

I loosen my grip on her and mother lifts her from my chest and cradles her close. She smiles down at my crying, screaming, daughter then smiles at me. Peeta holds me to him and I sink back weakly. The cries of our daughter are soothing, since I know she is okay. She's alive, she's here. Now I will take care of her and no one will hurt her ever. She returns momentarily with a wrapped up bundle of our daughter. She wears a scowl like I do as she squirms. I extend my arms and pull her in tight. Not wanting to let her go. I see the full beauty of the miracle that came from me. Brown fuzzy curls, roesy skin, Peeta's nose, my ears, and bright silver eyes like mine shining brightly.

"Hi..." I whisper softly and run my finger gently along her face.

She grabs my finger and grips it tightly.

"She's so beautiful, Kitten," Peeta says and gently uses his hand to cup her little head.

When I think this moment couldn't get better, the slow pain kreeps back up inside me.

'Right, we aren't done,' I remind myself.

"This one will be easy since she paved the way for her," Mother says,

Peeta takes her in one hand and my hand to squeeze. The time flies by, but not with any less pain. By the time she's out to her chin, I can't think anything more can happen. The lights turn on again and the sun is starting to come up. I take it as a sign. I give it all I got and the release comes again. Another strong set of cries erupt as I let the exhaustion take me. She gets taken care of then given back to me. She is a mini Peeta. Ocean blue eyes, blonde curls, small and innocent. I love her so much.

"These two sweethearts need a name," Peeta says.

"We never chose, did we?" I ask.

"Well, what about the mini me?" Peeta asks.

I look down at the child in my arms. "River Mae Mellark," I say and place a gentle kiss on her forehead, causing a small cry and a squirm.

"And, what about the mini me?" I ask.

Peeta looks down with a big smile. "Brooke Rose Mellark," He says.

"Welcome to the world, Little Bugs," We tell them.

THE END